Shloka 39

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वबाहुस्त्वनिमिषस्तिष्ठन्‌ स्थाणुरिवाचल: । षण्मासानभवद्‌ राजा श्वेतकि: सुसमाहितः,दोनों बाहें ऊपर उठाकर एकटक देखते हुए राजा श्वेतकि एकाग्रचित हो छ: महीनोंतक टहूँठकी तरह अविचल भावसे खड़े रहे

Transliteration

ūrdhvabāhus tv animiṣas tiṣṭhan sthāṇur ivācalaḥ | ṣaṇmāsān abhavad rājā śvetakiḥ susamāhitaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: With both arms raised aloft and his gaze unblinking, King Śvetaki stood motionless like a tree-stump, firm as a mountain. Thus, for six months he remained, wholly collected in mind.

Word by Word

ऊर्ध्वबाहुःhaving arms raised upward

तुbut/indeed

अनिमिषःunblinking

तिष्ठन्standing

स्थाणुःa stump/post

इवlike/as

अचलःimmovable

षण्मासान्six months (as duration)

अभवत्was/became

राजाthe king

श्वेतकिःŚvetaki (proper name)

सुसमाहितःwell-composed, deeply concentrated

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

King Śvetaki

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) as disciplined steadiness: unwavering posture, undistracted attention, and sustained mental composure. Ethically, it presents self-mastery and perseverance as foundations for attaining higher aims within dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes King Śvetaki performing a severe austerity: he stands with arms raised and eyes unblinking, remaining immobile like a stump or mountain for six months, absorbed in concentrated resolve.